Prep track notes: Tam's Knight taking on the decathlon

Tam High's Zach Knight has made a career out of clearing hurdles, which is not surprising considering he's the defending Marin County Athletic League 110 high hurdles and 300 hurdles champion.

Still, the hurdle Knight is trying to rise above this year is a tall order, even by his standards.

While defending his league hurdles titles remains Knight's top priority, he has expanded his horizons for his senior season. Knight is gearing up for a possible venture into the demanding world of the decathlon.

"I've got it into my head to try and become a decathlete, said Knight, who finished second in the 300 hurdles and third in the 110 high hurdles Saturday at the K-Bell Invitational in Los Gatos. "I'm going to do all the events throughout the season to see if I could be a decathlete in college."

Of course, Knight is confident in his ability in the hurdles. He's not too concerned about the pole vault — he initially wanted to be a pole vaulter in high school but found he was a natural at the hurdles — and he's already the best triple jumper on the Red-tailed Hawks squad.

"Zach is one of the hardest working athletes on the team," Tam coach Bob McLennan said. "He's also quite versatile. Besides the hurdles, he's the best triple jumper on the team and has begun working on the shot, discus, high jump and pole vault in anticipation of trying the decathlon in college."

Knight's biggest challenge in the decathlon, he says, will be mastering the shot put and discus throw. He's not worried about the strength factor — he spends countless hours a day working out —it's mastering the technique in the throwing events he feels will be the hardest part.

"Finding the form for the shot put and discus throw is the most difficult part of training for the decathlon," Knight said. "I'm looking forward to it, but it's definitely going to take a lot of work on my part." As far as the hurdles go, Knight is such a heavy favorite to repeat as MCAL champion in both races, he is going to have to find his only real competition outside the league in invitational events. He's hoping to run fast enough to earn an invite to the prestigious Stanford Invitational on March 30.

"It will be my last real chance to submit any electronic times," he said. "It's my place to shine." Knight said two small liberal arts colleges in Oregon, Linfield College and Willamette University, have both already offered him partial scholarships for track.

Knight has not made a decision about college.

But he's positive about his goal for the hurdles this season: Breaking the Tam school record in the 300 hurdles of 39.30, set by Jesse Hess in 1997.

"It's my senior year, the promised land of high school," he said. "I spend all my time training. It's what I love to do."

Honor roll

 Tam's August Kiles is off to a flying start in the pole vault. In two meets, Kiles has set two personal records, clearing 15 feet, 4 inches March 2 at the Drake all-comers meet and vaulting 15-7 to win the K-Bell Invitational on Saturday. Kiles is ranked second in the state.

 Drake's distance duo of John Lawson and Clayton Hutchins are wasting no time making their presence felt, either. At Saturday's K-Bell, both runners set personal records in the 1,600 meters with Lawson finishing first (4:17.40) and Hutchins third (4:18.55). Depending on other weekend results, Lawson quite possibly is the top ranked 1,600 runner in the state. Also for Drake at the K-Bell, junior Samantha Gilbert won her heat of the 100-meter dash (13.17) and finished seventh out of 97 entrants.

 Highlights from Saturday's San Rafael Twilight Relays include a third-place finish by Tam in the girls 800 meter sprint medley relay (1:52.24), a third by the San Rafael boys in the 4,000 distance medley relay (10:59.55) and a fifth by the Novato boys in the 800 sprint medley relay (1:39.38).

 As expected, Redwood dominated a double-dual MCAL opener against Justin-Siena and host San Marin on Thursday. One of the top marks of the day was a 44.4 by the Redwood boys 4x100 relay team. Redwood's Zach Copperband was a double winner in the 400 (54.2) and the 200 (23.9), narrowly edging San Marin's Jason Shannon (24.1). Redwood's Brian Hunca won both the 110 high hurdles (16.9) and the 300 hurdles (42.4). Other top Redwood performers were Andy Ehrenberg in the 3,200 (10:09.1) and Pierre Hicks in the triple jump (40-3).

 In the other double-dual league opener Thursday, Drake dominated Marin Catholic and Branson. Drake's Ari Runanin-Telle was the easiest kind of winner in the 300 hurdles and clocked a solid 45 flat. Drake's Lily Stander destroyed the field in the 400 (62.0). Branson sprinter Sam Chronert was a double-winner in the 100 (11.5) and the 200 (23.6). Branson's Jordan Winter notched a personal record with a winning leap of 5-1 in the girls high jump. Branson's Anna Harleen turned in a solid early-season mark with a facile victory in the 3,200 (5:28.0).

Meets to watch

 Most of the league action Thursday unfolds at Redwood in a triple-dual between the host Giants, San Rafael, Novato and Branson. Novato sprinter Christian Corbin is a heavy favorite in both the 100 and 200 and the promising Hornets' boys 4x100 relay team featuring Corbin and Novato newcomer Brandon Randel makes its season debut.

 In the only other Thursday league meet, Drake visits Justin-Siena in Napa.